Wednesday, November 3, 2010

General Musings Part 10

Dear Prudence,I am just a little over a year away from becoming a lawyer, and I'm miserable because I hate it. I wasn't forced into the profession. I just mistakenly believed that since I loved to read and debate, law was the natural progression. But I don't like law, and I'm not applying myself to it wholeheartedly. I can't imagine being in this field for the rest of my life or even a few years. My parents have sacrificed and spent so much on my education, and I have no idea how to tell them that I made a mistake. Worse, my mom thinks this is my dream, and I don't have the heart to tell her that it isn't. The only thing that really brings me joy is escaping into books that have nothing to do with law. Please help me.

—Inadmissible

Dear Inadmissible,You are not the first young person to find that a profession that looked good from a distance is a miserable fit in reality. You are close to finishing your studies, so you might as well get the degree. Since finding a decent job is eluding many people your age, staying in graduate school a while longer is a pretty good strategy. But getting a law degree doesn't mean you have to spend your life being a lawyer. Sure, your mother may be disappointed, but assure her that when you find a career that suits you better, you know you will benefit from your legal education. That's been the case for a number of people at Slate, from our esteemed founding editor, Michael Kinsley, to my superlative colleagues Dahlia Lithwick and Emily Bazelon—nonpracticing lawyers all. The worlds of business and politics are filled with people with law degrees. At back-to-school night, my daughter's high-school freshman English teacher told us that as a lawyer, she was particularly interested in teaching our children the art of persuasive writing. And since you love escaping into books, you might want to practice law for a few years, then use your experiences to try to create your own literary world, like Scott Turow and John Grisham.

The comments to this really bothered me as well as this answer. Why? Because these comment givers had no sense of what it's like to be unemployed TODAY & trying to get into a non-traditional legal job TODAY.

The person who made entertainment law sound like such an easy field to get into bothered me enough to create my own profile so I could refute that notion. I never let people think my own career path is mega-easy to get into or that if they do what I did, they'll get the same things. Chances are, it won't happen. To not do that would be irresponsible and bitchy on my part. You also have to be prepared to be broke if you're going to do this; the entertainment field is about passion & regardless of your circumstances, you're paying dues somehow. If it's marching lockstep for a connected or rich parent or having to share a studio in NYC with 4 other people, you're still having to do things you probably hate.

That's not to say you shouldn't aspire to things or can't get into this industry if you really want to w/out sleeping with big wigs or taking drugs but go in with your eyes open, not in a haze of Hollywood glamor. You also fight a battle to be taken seriously in a non-traditional job if you have a JD, as many law school scam bloggers have chronicled based on their experiences. Too much flippancy, coming from an entertainment law lawyer who is living this.

While we're on the subject of the entertainment industry, this just makes me scared for my actors.

I'm certain that at least some of the people we work with could easily become well known & have to deal w/jerky fan behavior. I'd love to know whether the Internet has made it easier for stalkers & cretons to get into the inner circle or if it's not had an effect.

Plus, I'm an extremely protective person. If I like you, no stalker is safe. Messing w/someone I care about is messing w/me. Even my husband is that protective of our actors; he'd beat up stalkers for the people he likes & contribute to the posse if one's needed for someone he feels didn't deserve to be harmed/harassed by the wrongdoer.

Also, if I were this man's wife I'd never tolerate that shit. You'd be gone in a second. Perhaps it's because my mom doesn't give a damn about celebrity or I work in the industry but I don't view anyone through that gauze of celebrity & illusion. You learn firsthand about people being people & if you're behind the scenes, you know how the illusion is created so you can't fall for it. Neither of us have the list of celebrities we'd sleep with; there are none. I also can't hope to work w/anyone if I'd had sexual fantasies about them; my work life & my sex life are discrete + separate categories. You don't muddy those waters.

By the way actors, if you work w/me and I start telling your stalkers that you have a ton of STDs or about creepy stuff that may or may not be true, don't interrupt me. In fact, your managers should back me up & join in. Shattering the illusion may save your life.

Once again, Catholic bishops stay the hell out of politics. In fact, all religions need to stay out of it. Until you have a vagina, shut up about the cost of birth control pills. You know plenty of men won't wear condoms & there are abusive relationships in the world, even in America.

And the statement "Stay the hell out of it!" also goes for abortion issues. When you can get pregnant, then you can talk about it. Until then, shut up or risk angry feminists castrating you, sewing your lips shut, whatever it takes for you to stop foaming at the mouth and trying to set women back to the Stone Age.

Man, I wish stupidity was a capital offense & that we could hang people for it.

Even my husband & I who are hard core opposed to illegal immigration support amnesty for people who served this country in the military. If that doesn't prove your commitment to a nation, what on Earth does? Getting a microchip implanted in your body so the government can track you? My father was in the Air Force & a few years back, wanted to go back in but figured he'd be too old at that point.

I don't think being in the military should be a pre-requisite to being a politician but I think military members deserve some respect. I'll bet the pricks who want to deny amnesty for illegals who served in the military never actually served & probably wouldn't either. I've heard enough stories about combat from veterans I know to have respect and appreciation for anyone willing to go through that.

Please, I don't want to see any of my exes. This presumes you actually want to be friends with one. Guess what? Some of us don't.

In fact, my husband has an ex I have to smack if I ever see her since she was abusive to my adorable psycho kitty cat. That bitch also stole my husband's fog machine, which the cat liked playing in the fog for. She should thank her lucky stars I got a fog machine, solutions & cleaner this week during the Halloween discount sales (that's the time to shop; get it at 1/2 off). Otherwise, she'd be paying for the cost from her hide.

The guy at the Spirit Halloween where I bought this machine even said that I should kick this ex's butt for stealing the fog machine & abusing the cat. Okay, she put hair clips on the cat's tail to discipline him!! No animal deserves abuse & I'd like to know how she'd like me sticking clips on her fat butt and restraining her so she couldn't get them off. I'm sure she wouldn't like it. My husband told me she was fat & I'm skinner than most women. Seeing me might be a lot to make this one feel bad but animal abuse doesn't slide w/me.

If I saw most of mine, I'd never talk to them unless it was to say "Fuck you." Not telling an ex off or physically hurting the ex is the best you'll get from me & my husband. Maybe I should just make an assistant do it...that's got to be the ultimate dis.

1. Not getting a paycheck or fighting to get paid for your work.2. Being asked to break the law or do something shady.3. Hassle over business reimbursements or not having to present a receipt for business expenses.4. Your boss hangs out in his darkened office with individuals. That means there's probably dirty stuff going on, or your boss wants it to. If you're the same gender as the victim, this means you won't be taken seriously in your job title.

Since my experiences, I've found that RipOff Report and the court websites are your friend in making sure people are being honest & forthright w/you. If you're not getting paid, get out. Research people very carefully before you deal with them.

About Me

I am an attorney who used to work with a small indie film production company. Like it or not, it seems I now have a place in the entertainment industry.
DISCLAIMER: The statements on this blog represent my personal views ONLY. It is not to be taken as any representation of the views of ANY other entity besides me, myself & I. I am not a spokesperson for ANYONE other than myself.
This blog is also NOT LEGAL ADVICE nor does any statement here form an attorney-client relationship or convey more than general information. If you want to be MY client, you'll have to sign a retainer agreement & pay me first.